Apparatus for regulating the delivery of drinking-cups.



H. B. coon-1v. 1 APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE DELIVERY OF DRINKING CUPS.APPLICATION- FILED MAY 6. l9 l4.

Patented 180520 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. coouzv. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE DELIVERY OF DRINKING CUPS-APPLICATION FILED MVP, 1914. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I HENRY B. 000L132, OF KENSINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNQR TO THE AMERICANPAPER GOODS COMPANY, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, A coRPoRArIon on NEWJERSEY.

APPARATUs'EoR REGULATING THE DELIVERY OF DRINKING-curs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed May 6,1914. Serial No. 836,676.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. CooLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at .Kensington, in the county of Hartford and State'ofConnecticut, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Regulatingthe Delivery of Drinking-Cups, of which the following is a.specification.

My invention relates to the class of apparatus within which drinkingcups or like devices are temporarily placed, and from which they may beobtained when required for use, and an object of ,my invention,

among others, is to provide a device of this class that is extremelysimple in its construction and particularly eflicient in its operation.One form of apparatus embodying my invention and in the construction anduse of which the objects herein'set out, as well as others, may beattained, is. illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Flgure1s a view 1n slde elevation of an apparatus embodying my lnventlon, withparts broken away to show construction,the

mechanism being shown, in position to release a cup for delivery to theuser.

Flg'. 2 is a vlew in sectlon through the case and the coin chute,illustratingthe mechanism in side elevation and with the parts in theirnormal position of rest, the

I point of view being on the opposite side of the apparatus. from thepoint of View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in sectionthrough the: apparatus on plane denoted bythe broken line in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of I the apparatus showing theposition to which the parts have been moved when the coin is at theoutlet end of the coin chute, the

mechanism being viewed in side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a detail front view showing a portion of the 'parts in thesame position as illustrated.- in Fig. 4.

Fig.6 is a detail view showing the position of the cup feeding detentsat the time 'of release of a cup therefrom.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing these detents in anintermediateposition. j

In the accompanyingdrawings' the numeral 8 indicates the back plate ofmy improved apparatus from which plate a shelf or top plate9 projects. Acase 10, forming the bottom, side and front walls of an inclosu'rewithin which the'mechanism is located, is secured to the back plate 8 inany suitable manner, the shelf 9 .forming the said neck. having ashoulder 13 that receives the lower edge of a 'dome 14:, formed of glassor other suitable material, within 7 which the cups arestacked ornested, the

tent at each side of the stack of cups) has a tail 23' projecting fromwithin the hous ing through the shelf '9 into the inclosure within thecase, a spring 24 secured to and extending between the tails, holdingthem and the releasing and detaining dogs in their normal posltlons,and-at rest.

e A coin slot 25 is formed through the shelf 9, a coin chute 26extending from said slot downwardly and toward the bacl; plate. A triplever 27 is secured to a trip lever shaft 21 mounted in brackets 28 and61 project- .top of this inclosure. A neck 12 rises from I the top platethat has an opening 11 therein, i

ing from the back plate. A finger 29 pro- 1 jects from the lever at oneside of the apparatus into the coin chute, and a foot 30 extends fromsaid lever in position to strike acatch leven31 to be hereinafterdescribed. It will be understood that the lever 27, specificallydescribed as located at a certain side of a stack' of cups, and itsattached parts, as well as parts connected to an actuating shaft 32 tobe now described, are duplicated on the opposite side of said stack,

and. the following description when applying to the members composingone part only of a cup delivery mechanism will be understood as applyingequally to the other part of said mechanism, it being further understood that either or both of these mecha-' nisms may be employed asdesired, one of the mechanisms on one side only of the stack of cups inmany instances serving the pur pose fully.

' rotating said shaft in one direction,. and a spring 35', preferablycoiled about the shaft,

. rotating it in the opposite direction. Arms 36 are secured to theshaft and project for: wardly" therefrom, these arms having rests 38upon which the bottom of the'stack of cups is supported. Spring actuatedgrlp fingers 39 are pivotally mounted in the ends of the arms, one end40 of each finger being of, hook shape to efigagethe inner surface ofbeads 41 at the bottom of the cups 42, the opposite end 43 of eachfingerhaving a finger actuating spring secured thereto, and the oppositeends of said springs being attached to the-lower edges of the-arms v36.The grip finger holding catch levers 31 are pivotally mounted on thearms 36,- andtheir lower ends are formed into catches 45 to engage thelower edges of the, grip fingers, the upper end of each catch leverconstitut inga nose 58 located inthepath of movement of the foot ton thetrip lever 27, and a projection 46 from each catch lever receiving oneend of a spring 47, by means troller detent of which the catch lever isheld in position grip finger.

has a shoulder 49 to be engaged'by a con- 50 located va't one end of adetent lever 53 pivotally supportedon the bracket 28,; said lever havinga coin releasing end 52 to temporarily retain a coin, a 00111 release51, in the form of a projection or tooth from the controller 48,engaging 'supported on said rests as an end of the lever and moving itto re lease the coin and permitit to'fall.

Guides 5455 are secured to thejcase and back plate to. direct movementof the cups by the mechanism, inahe operation. of which, a coin 56 isplaced in the coin slot 25 against the finger 29, that, by pressure uponthe 'coinis pushed downwardly moving the trip q levers 27 on theirpivots and carrying the feet 30 into contact with the noses 58 onthe-catch levers, that move to disengage the catches 45 from the gripfingers 39. The latter being released are forced by their springsagainst the inner surface of the bead on the .bottom' of the bottom cupin the stack, .gripping said bead between the hooked fingers and theside of the arms 36 abovethe rests 38, the .stack of cups being'hereinbefore 5 stated. As the finger 29 is moved out of the coin chutethe coin passes over the end of the finger and along the chute and restsat the outlet end thereof upon the coin re,- leas'ing end .52 of thedetent lever 53,.the weight of the coinmoving the lever to disengage thedetent 50 from the shoulder 49,

y the coin being temporarily held in this position with the detentdisengaged from said shoulder.

The shaft 32 is now free to'be rotated as by means of the handle 34,which rotation carries the arms 36 downward, and with them the gripfingers 39, which hold thebottom cup of the stack, and said cup is,therefore, separated from the stack and,

carried I downward. In this downward swinging movement of the arms 36the ends 43 of the gripping' fingers engage releasing arms 59 projectingfrom the back plate, said arms moving the fingers on their pivots andreleasing them from grip on the cup. The continued swinging movement ofthe '"arms causes them to pass from underneath the cup, and the latter,directed by the guldes 54 and 55, falls through the delivery opening 60intthe bottom of the case 10. Contact of the ends 43 of the fingers withthe arms 59. moves saidfingers into position to permit the catches 45 toreengage them and hold them' in this position, the ends 43 being now solocated that they will freely pass the arms 59 as the'mechanism returnsto its normal position of rest.

In the rotation of the shaft 32 the coin release 51 on the controllerengages the detent 50, swinging the detent lever to an extent to releasethe coin and permit it to dropout of the outlet end of the chute 26, andinto a proper receptacle provided for it, the controller being recessedas at 37 to permit passage of the coin between it and the backplate.

- As the cup is pulled downward by the grlpping; mechanism the cupfeeding detents are rotated in their bearings, moving the releasing dogsdownwardly until they are in position to permit the cup to fall, and atthe same time the detaining dogs are moved into position to underlie thelip atthe upper edge of the second cup from the bottom one in the stack,which, after the removal of said bottom cup becomes the bottom cup inthe stack. As soon as the bottom cup isreleased from the dogs 19 thedetents move upwardly under the pull of the spring 24, the detainingdogs in this movement snapping past the lip of the cup underneath whichthey have been engaged, and the now bottom cup moves downwardly andrests upon the dogs 19;"

While have shown and described herein a satisfactory construction ofmechanism for carrying my invention into effect it will be understoodthat this may be departed from to a greater or lesser degree and yet bewithin the spirit and intent of the in- "ention.

I claim 1. A cup delivering apparatus including means for supporting astack of cups in an upright position, gripping jaws to seize the bottomof the bottom cup in the stack, means for moving the gripping aws toseparate the bottom cup from the stack while it is held against downwardmovement, and means for operating the gripping jaws to release saidbottom cup.

2. A cup delivering apparatus including means for supporting a stack ofcups in an upright position, gripping jaws to seize the bottom of thebottom cup of the stack, means for moving the gripping aws to separatethe bottom cup from the stack, means for operating the gripping jaws torelease said bottom cup,and means for retaining the stack in placeduring the removal of the I bottom cup therefrom.-

3. A- cup delivering apparatus including means for supporting a stack ofcups each having a bead around its bottom, ineans for gripping the beadof the bottom cup in the stack, means for moving the gripping means toseparate the bottom cup from the stack, and means for operating thegripping means to release said bottom cup.

4. A cup delivering apparatus including means for supporting a stack ofcups at the bottom thereof, means for gripping the bottom of the bottomcup in the stack, means for operating the gripping means to separate thebottom cup from the stack, means for operating the gripping means torelease said bottom cup, andmeans forretaining the stack in place duringthe removal of the bottom cup.

5. A cup delivering apparatus including means at the bottom of a stackof cups upon which said stack is supported, means for gripping thebottom of a cup, means for moving said gripping means .to separate thebottom cup from the stack, means for operating the gripping means torelease the bottom cup, and means to engage the upper edges of the cupsto retain the stackin pd sition during the removal of the bottom cuptherefrom.

' (3. A detent for a cup delivering apparatus, said detent including areleasing dog and a detaining dog having an oscillating movement in thedirection of delivery movement of the cups, said releasing dog beingpositioned toengage the under side of a bead at .the upper edge of a cupin a stack and the detaining dog being positioned to engage the underside of a bead on the next succeeding cup in said stack.

7. A detent fora cup del vering appara- .tus, said detent including areleasing dog anda detaining dog rigidly connectedand having anoscillatory movement in the direction of releasing movement of cups froma stack, said dogs having their edges formed to partially encircle a cupbody and said releasing dog being positioned to engage the under side ofa head at the upper edge of a cup in a stack and the detaining dog beingpositioned to engage the under side of a bead on the next succeeding cupin said stack.

8. A cup delivering apparatus including means for supporting a stack ofcups in an upright vertical position, and a detent including a releasingdog and a detaining dog rigidly connectedand having an oscillatorymovement on a horizontal pivot, said dogs having their edges shaped topartially en' circle a cup body, and the releasing dog being positionedto engage the under side of a bead on the upper edge of a cup in thestack and the detaining dog being positioned to engage the under side ofa bead on the next succeeding cup in said stack.

9. A detent for a cup delivering apparatus, said detent including anoscillatory body part, a releasing dog rigidly secured to said body partand projecting in position to en gage the under side of a head at theupper edge of the bottom of a cup' in a stack, a

detaining dog rigidly secured to the body part and spaced from thereleasing dog a distance slightly greater than the thicknessof saidhead, said detaining dog being positioned to engage the under side ofthe lip I at the upper edge of the next succeeding and a detaining dogrigidly connected and secured to said detent, the releasing dog toengage the under side of a bead at the up per edge of the bottom cup inthe stack, and the detaining dog spaced from the releasing dog adistance slightly greater than the thickness of the bead on the cup,said 'detaining dog. being positioned to engage the under side of thebead at the upper edge of the next succeeding cup in the stack and saiddogs being movablein the direction of movement of the cups.

11. Acup delivering apparatus including an actuating shaft, means foractuating the shaft, a gripping device supported by and to move withsaid shaft, means for operating said gripping device to grasp the bottomI25 edge of a'cup in a stack, means for releasing said gripping device,and means for supporting the stack of cups while .the bottom cup isbeingremoved therefrom.

12. A cup delivering apparatus including operating it, an arm secured tosaid support,

a grip'finger pivotally mounted on said arm, means for moving saidfinger in" one direction to grasp the lowe r edge of the. bottom cup inthe stack, means for moving said finger'to release the cup, said fingerbeing arranged to be held in its released position, and means forsupporting the stack of cups whilethe bottom cup is being removedtherefrom.

v 14. A cup delivering apparatus including amovably mounted support withmeans for a movably mounted support with means or sol . stack of cupswhile the bottom cup is removed therefr finger in' the operating it, anarm rigidly secured to said support, a gripping finger having, a hookedend positioned to engage the bead on the bottom of the lowermost cup ina stack, means for moving said finger in one direction to grip saidbead, means for moving tlie finger in the opposite direction to releasesaid bead, and means for su'pportin the being om. 15. A cup deliveringapparatus including a movably mounted supporting member with means foroperatingit, an arm rigidly secured to said support, a rest onsaidarmfor the support of.a stack of. cups, a finger pivotally mounted in saidarm to engage the ead on the bottom vcup of said stack and force itagainst theside of the arm, means for moving the; finger .in onedirection to gripsaid bead, and means for moving the opposite directionto .release said bead." Q I I a 16. A cup delivering apparatusincludi goperating it, an arm secured to said support, a finger pivotally mountedin said arm to grip the lower edge of the bottom .cup in a stack, meansfor forcing the finger 1n one direction to grip a cup, means'for movingI it in the opposite direction to release thecup,

said finger-being arranged tobe held in its released'positio 17 A cupdelivering apparatus-including a movably; mounted support with means foroperatin 1t,an arm secured'to said support,

a finger pivotally mounted in said arm to.

grip the lower edgeof the bottom cup in a" stack, a spring connectedwiththe fingerte hold it in gripped engagement with said cup, means for"moving. .the finger in the opposite direction against the force of thespring to release the cup, said finger being arranged tobe held in itsreleased position.

18. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted support with\means for operating it, an arm projecting from said support, a gripfinger pivotally mounted on said arm to grasp the lower edge of thebottom cup in a stack, means to move said finger in one direction togrip said cup, means to' move saidfinger in the op osite direction torelease the cup, said finger eing arranged to be held in its releasedposition,.and an arm located in the path of movement of said finger tomove it inone of said directions.

19. Acup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted support, anarm projectingfrom said support, a finger pivotally m'ountedon said armto grip the bottom edge of the bottom cup in a stack, a springforforcing said finger in one direction, said finger being arranged tobe held in its released o'sition, and an arm located in the path 0movement of said finger to move it against the force of said spring.

20. A cup delivering apparatus including an arm, a fingerpivotally'mounted on said arm, a spring to move said finger to grip thebottom edge of the bottom cup in a stack, an arm located in the path ofmovement of said finger torelease it from gripping engagement with saidcup, said finger being adapted to engage a latch for retention in itsopen position. v r

21 Acup delivering apparatus including an actuating shaft'with means forrotating it, an arm rigidly secured to said shaft, a rest for a stack ofcups'on said arm, a finger pivotally mounted and extending laterallythereof with its end positioned to engage the, bead on the bottom ofthebottom cup m" shaft, a; gripping finger mounted on said arm, means foractuating said finger to grasp the bottom edge of the bottom cup in saidstack, and means to release said finger from the grip of said clip.

23. A cup delivering apparatus iiicluding an. actuating shaft with meansfor rotating it, an arm projecting from said shaft, a rest' for a stack,of cups upon said arm, said rest being positioned to be moved out fromunderneath said stack as the arm is moved in the rotation of the shaft,a gripping finger pivotally mounted in said arm to grasp the bottom edgeof the'lowermost cup in said stack, means for forcing the finger in onedirection to grip said cup, means for moving it in the oppositedirection to release said cup, said finger being arranged to be held inits released position; 1

24. A cup delivering apparatus including an actuating shaft with meansfor rotating it in one direction, means for rotating said shaft in theopposite direction, an arm projecting from said shaft, a gripping fingerpivotally mounted on said arm to grasp the bottom edge of the lowermostcup in a stack, a spring to force said finger into gripping engagementwith the cup, means for moving the finger in the opposite direction torelease the cup, said finger being arranged 15 to be held in itsreleased position.

25. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted support withmeans for operating it, an arm projecting from said support, a fingerpivotally mounted on said arm to grip the bottom edge of the lowermostcup in'the stack, a spring to hold said finger in gripped engagementwith said cup, means for moving said finger in opposition to said springto release it from engagement with the cup, said finger being-adapted toengage a latch for retention in its openposition.

' HENRY B. OOOLEY.

Witnesses:

ROBERT CHRISTHI, J12, Tnos". W. EMERSON.

